British citizenship for EU nationals

We can help with the naturalisation of EU nationals through qualifying residency in the UK. Our team in London stays at the forefront of immigration and nationality laws and regulations to ensure your nationality goals are achieved.

How EU nationals can naturalise in the UK

As a European Union (EU) national (or the family member of an EU national), you can move to the UK to live and work. It is important that you are in the UK exercising EU treaty rights (i.e. employment, study, being self-sufficient, etc.).

On 27 October 2015, a new law was passed in the UK to prevent European Union nationals (and their family members) applying for British nationality if they do not first hold a residence card.

If you have held a residence card for 12 months (exceptions can apply), have lived in the UK for at least five years and if you meet the other set criteria (including the “good character” requirement), you could naturalise as a British citizen.

What about Brexit?

Given the recent Brexit vote and the likelihood that the UK will exit the European Union over the coming years, the status of those EU nationals living in the UK is unclear. It is important to secure your rights to live and work in the UK as soon as possible.

Good character

The good character requirement goes beyond the scope of simply being free from criminal convictions and includes (but is not limited to):

Traffic offences

Not being up-to-date with tax returns and tax payments

Bankruptcy

County Court Judgements (CCJ) or an overseas equivalent

Overstaying your visa (even by a single day)

Working when your visa did not permit it

Any person affected by the above should seek professional advice before attempting an application.

UK naturalisation for non-EU nationals

In order to naturalise in the UK as a British citizen, you will first need to qualify for indefinite leave to remain. There are numerous requirements that will change depending on your individual situation. If you have any questions about obtaining ILR and full citizenship, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Using ILR to naturalise as a UK citizen

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is the status of permanent residency for non-EU nationals in the UK. It is possible for a person holding ILR to naturalise in the UK as a British citizen.

The requirements to be met are dependent on two factors:

Are you married to a British citizen?

Are you not married to a British citizen?

In both cases, the following criteria apply:

You must be over 18 years old

You must be of good character (see below)

You must pass the “Life in the UK” test*

You must have sufficient knowledge of the English language*

You must have an intention to live in the UK

* An applicant over the age of 65 is not subject to meeting this criteria

Applicants who are married to a British citizen

There are specific requirements for naturalisation if you are married to a British citizen. The applicant:

Must hold ILR on the date of application

Must have been resident in the UK for three years on any legal visa status

Must have been present in the UK on the date three years prior to the application being received by the Nationality Directorate

Cannot have been absent from the UK for more than 270 days in those three years*

Cannot have been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months before your application*

As a married partner, you can apply for naturalisation immediately after receiving ILR.

*Exceptions can apply based on individual circumstances to allow further time away outside of the UK

Applicants not married to a British citizen

The requirements for naturalisation if you are not married to a British citizen are slightly different to those set out above.

An applicant must:

Have held ILR for at least the last 12 months

Have been in the UK for the last five years

Have been present in the UK on the date five years prior to the application being received by the Nationality Directorate

Not have been outside the UK for more than 450 days during those 5 years*

Not have been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months before your application*

* Exceptions can apply based on individual circumstances to allow further time away outside of the UK

Good character

The good character requirement goes beyond the scope of simply being free from criminal convictions and includes (but is not limited to):

Traffic offences

Not being up-to-date with tax returns and tax payments

Bankruptcy

County Court Judgements (CCJ) or an overseas equivalent

Overstaying your visa (even by a single day)

Working when your visa did not permit it

Any person affected by the above should seek professional advice before attempting an application.

Conditions for naturalisation in the UK

Once your naturalisation application is approved, you will be invited to attend a British citizenship ceremony. This ceremony can only take place in your local council area in the UK. Once you have done this, you will be eligible to submit an application for a British passport.

British citizenship for Irish citizens

The process of an Irish citizen becoming a British citizen through a period of qualifying residency in the UK is distinct from the process that applies to other EU nationals.

How it works for Irish citizens

Immigration law dating back to the 1970s and pre-dating the current European Union (EU) legislation means that Irish citizens are treated differently in the UK. Upon entry into the UK, you are considered settled for immigration and nationality purposes.

After a period of five years in the UK, and if you meet the other set criteria (including the good character requirement), you can naturalise as a British citizen.

Unlike other EU nationals, as an Irish citizen, you:

Don’t have to be exercising EU treaty rights to reside legally in the UK

Don’t have to obtain a permanent residence card in order to naturalise

Given the recent Brexit vote and the likelihood that the UK will exit the EU over the coming years, the status of Irish citizens living in the UK is unclear.

While we think that Irish citizens will continue to have a special status in the UK, it is important to secure your rights to live and work in the UK sooner rather than later.

Good character

The good character requirement goes beyond the scope of simply being free from criminal convictions and includes (but is not limited to):

Traffic offences

Not being up-to-date with tax returns and tax payments

Bankruptcy

County Court Judgements (CCJ) or an overseas equivalent

Overstaying your visa (even by a single day)

Working when your visa did not permit it

Any person affected by the above should seek professional advice before attempting an application.

Croydon

Australia

Melbourne

Sable International is a trading name of 1st Contact Money Limited (company number 7070528) registered in England and Wales. Sable International is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK (FCA no. 517570), the Financial Services Conduct Authority in South Africa (FSP no. 41900) and holds an Australian Financial Services License issued by ASIC to deal in foreign exchange (AFS License number 335 126).

Please note: Sable International is a trading name of Philip Gamble and Co. Ltd. Philip Gamble and Co. Ltd is registered in the UK with the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) under no. F2001-00004. Our staff based outside of the UK are not regulated by the OISC and may be involved in some client casework. However, they work to the same high standards as our UK staff and clients receive the same service regardless of which office they engage with.